That's quite a "glass half empty" way of looking at it. There are plenty of people who are in good careers and who started out through an apprenticeship. Such people will often say "It was the best move I ever made". Opting out of the academic route isn't the right move for everyone because there are some jobs were it definitely helps to have a degree and in some cases is actually essential.

However, if you aren't the academic type then you should definitely explore the possibilities around apprenticeships. Unless you are fully informed about what they involve, how can you make a sensible choice anyway?